If an album sounds like it’s not going to work, it’s got to be one that a trumpeter (Eric Vloeimans) teamed up with an accordionist (Will Holsouser). This recording catches them during a 2021 tour of The Netherlands, and while…
Month: December 2022
Lisa Hilton: Paradise Cove
It seems fitting that the cover of Lisa Hilton’s latest album has her holding on to her hat, because that is what she’s doing on her most assertive album to date. The pianist is in a quartet setting with Kenny…
LADIES AT THE MIC…Nica Carrington: Times Like These, Judith Whitmore: Isn’t It Romantic?
There is a difference between xx and xy… Uptown toned vocalist Nica Carrington gets together with some of LA’s finest on this classy collection of standards, with pianist John Proulx, bassist Chuck Berghofer and drummer Joe LaBarbera, Carrington displays an…
Ana Nelson: Bridges
Easy on the ears post bop is mixed with some chamber sounds by Ana Nelson switching between alto sax and clarinet along with t team of Jamaal Baptiste/p, Grendan Keller-Tuberg/p, Carter Pearson/dr, and other guests including a String Quartet. The…
Babaux and the Peacemakers: Lucky 13
Playing a rural sounding dobro and singing like a hitchhiker’s sandied voice, Babaux snarls out folksy blues with Alana Velvis/dr-perc, Niek Velvis/b and Eric Martinez/g with foreboding allure. The horizons are dark on the rocking “Wide Open Horizon” with the…
Hilario Duran and David Virelles: Front Street Duets
Glorious Latin conversations are displayed on 176 ivories by pianists Hilario Duran and David Virelles on the wonderous duet of spirits. There’s a wide range of emotions here, hey, we’re talking about Latinos! Ranging from ebullient and bel canto callings…
Tawanda: Smile
The new voice on the block belongs to hone-toned Tawanda, and she’s full of spirit with the top tier Angelenos as her bandmates in Josh Nelson-Tamir Hendelman/p, Kevin Axt/b, Anthony Wilson/g and Gary Meek/sax five simpatico support to a clever…
TRIO TIME…Teemu Kekkonen: Here/There
Finnish pianist Teemu Kekkonen teams up with bassist Mikael Saastamoinen and drummer Roope Kantonen for a collection of pasteled moods. Kekkonen displays a stron left hand around the busy bass line of “Dragonflies In July” and penetrates on the contemplative…
Mark Guiliana: The Sound Of Listening
Drummer and leader Mark Guiliana creates a moody and impressionistic album, adding some programming, synths and percussion along with bassist Chris Morrisey, pianist Shai Maestro (who also doubles on various keys) and tenor saxist Jason Rigby who adds clarinets and…